Indonesia's polio cases rise to 34: WHO

Indonesia's polio cases rise to 34: WHO

Indonesia has reported six new polio infections, bringing to 34 the number of cases since the crippling disease re-emerged in the country last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

In a statement received on Friday, the WHO said the six cases were all found on the western side of Java island.

The outbreak is the first in Indonesia in a decade. Indonesia has inoculated 6.2 million children since late last month in a bid to stamp out the disease, which can cause irreversible paralysis in a matter of hours.

The first cases were reported in early May near the city of Sukabumi in West Java province, 100 km (62 miles) south of Jakarta.

WHO, which wants to halt the spread of polio worldwide in 2005, has said it expected a slight increase in the Indonesian total because authorities had been investigating a number of suspected cases.

The U.N. agency has battled a series of setbacks to its global campaign since Nigeria's northern state of Kano banned immunization out of fear it could cause sterility or spread HIV/AIDS. Vaccination resumed after a 10-month ban.

Indonesia is one of a number of countries where polio has re- emerged after being imported from West Africa. Saudi Arabia and Yemen have also suffered outbreaks.

The viral disease of the brain and spinal cord mainly affects children under five. Some cases are fatal.

Indonesian health officials have said the virus may have been carried by a migrant worker or a Haj pilgrim who visited Saudi Arabia before returning to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation. -- Reuters